From 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 17th, Wisconsin Cheese Originals is sponsoring “a once-in-a-lifetime event to sample and compare 15 unique, rare, international cheeses vs. their Wisconsin artisan counterparts, side by side” at Monona Terrace. Tickets to this tasting event are $20 and include an opportunity to “meet 30 cheese judges representing six continents, as well as 11 award-winning artisan Wisconsin cheesemakers.”
This event is definitely not as cheap as enjoying the free tastings available by a slow stroll through your local Brennan’s Market or Whole Foods Market, but it undoubtedly offers more varieties, bigger chunks of cheese, and less need for surreptitious sneaking of second samples.
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store at 1309 Williamson Street is holding a one-day bicycle sale from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 6th.
There will be lots of bikes, all kinds of bikes, ranging in price from $10 to $300. We called the store and learned that the bikes are stored in the basement, so they won’t be available for viewing until the day of the sale.
If you plan to attend the sale on Saturday, please enter the store on the South Baldwin Street side.
Ice skating image from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Update: According to the Badger Ticket Office, as of 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 25th, 2010, tickets for this event are SOLD OUT.
From the Wisconsin Athletic Department comes the following announcement that’s sure to be of interest to anyone who needs an incentive to lace up their ice skates this winter:
In conjunction with the Culver’s Camp Randall Hockey Classic Feb. 6th, a public skate will take place on Friday, Feb. 5th at the outdoor hockey venue built inside Camp Randall Stadium.
The event is free and open to the public. However a ticket specifically for the public skate will be required for entry into the stadium for ALL attendees regardless of age.
Public skate tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis exclusively online at UWBadgers.combeginning at 8:30 AM Monday, January 25th at 8:30 a.m. There is a limit of four tickets per order.
The event will feature four 30 minute skating periods beginning at 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (ice resurfacing will occur from 8-8:30PM). Tickets will be specifically valid for one of the four periods. Skaters must bring their own skates as no skate rental will be available. Sticks and pucks will not be allowed on the ice. Attendees must wear skates to be allowed on the ice surface.
Parking is free on a first-come, first-served basis in Lot 17 adjacent to Camp Randall Stadium. Ticket holders must enter Gate 3 at the north end of the stadium.
It’s taken us a while to learn to love Twitter, but now that we’re getting the hang of it, our efforts are starting to reap some tasty benefits.
Forget about celebrities: We’re following chefs and foodies. We read, we salivate, and sometimes we impulsively head out to eat dinner at a local restaurant. Consider the following temptation Tweeted by Weary Traveler chef Joey Dunscombe (Wearychefjoey) on 12/28: “Tonight we have an apple cider-miso braised pork chop from Jordandal farm with organic broccoli and toasted almond rice.”
If you missed that special, but have a yen for tasting some new and tasty variations on “the other white meat,” you may want to go easy on brunch this weekend in order to save room for the Weary Traveler’s Pork Off! from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 10th.
A benefit for REAP’s Farm to School Program, the Pork Off! will feature 10 chefs and 10 different pork dishes — all for 10 bucks. Sounds delicious! And we suspect that, weather permitting, this could be a very popular event, in which case you may want to heed Dunscombe’s advice in today’s Tweet: “Come early!”
We’re dreaming about the scrumptious Turtle Pie we had last January at Quivey’s Grove Stable Grill — and envisioning some of the treats on the 2010 menus of the 31 participating restaurants. Treats like Homemade Cinnamon Marshmallows at Bluephie’s Restaurant and Vodkatorium and Grass Fed Veal Scaloppini at Dayton Street Grille. And more, much more.
You don’t need a ticket or a coupon to attend, but you may need reservations. Some popular restaurants tend to fill their tables very quickly because the Restaurant Week prices are so appealing (not cheap, but definitely less expensive than you’d normally pay for comparable dining adventures).
Each participating restaurant offers 3 special, fixed–price, 3 course menu options for just $25 per person for dinner (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Some also offer a special 3 course, 3 option lunch menu for $15.
L’Etoile and Zander’s Capital Grille haven’t posted their menus yet, but you can check out what the other Check out what the restaurants are offering by using the links on Madison Magazine’s “Participating Restaurants” page. That’s the easy part. The difficult task will be figuring out how to best spend your time and money — and how many hours of exercise you’ll need to work off the calories you’re going to consume.
Updated 1/14/2010
The Winter Solstice is Monday, December 21st and at least two local organizations are heralding its arrival with pre-solstice bonfires.
The Friends of Starkweather Creek will sponsor a Solstice Celebration, including a bonfire, beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 20th at Olbrich Park (below the sledding hill) on Madison’s East Side.
The Four Lakes Group Sierra Club will hosts its annual Winter Solstice bonfire beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 20th at the last fire pit out on Picnic Point. If you plan to attend, organizers offer the following advice: “Bring warm liquids for yourself and a snack to share. Its nearly a mile long hike in, over uneven ground that may be snowy, so don’t forget a warm knit hat, warm gloves/mittens and boots. We want you to have a good time!”
For directions to Picnic Point and a map of the area, visit The University of Wisconsin-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website.
Madison’s “Downtown Holiday Open House” event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 28th, offers a festive respite from the crowded malls and big box stores that are the focus of Black Friday.
Enjoy free trolley rides, stroll around the Capitol Square and down State Street to sample the wares of more than 370 shops, boutiques, bookstores, galleries, and restaurants, many of which are locally owned.
Scanning the list of events provided by the Madison Central Business Improvement District (BID), it’s clear that you can imbibe lots of free cider and a bit of hot chocolate; and eat more than a couple of free cookies if you plan your route carefully.
Downtown merchants aren’t promising a lot of freebies and dizzying discounts, but they do offer a large variety of unique items that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. One of the best deals on tap is the $25 gift certificate for only $15 (a 40% discount) that you can buy and use at three restaurants: Frida Mexican Grill, Zander’s Capitol Grill, and The Icon. Another good deal may be the Wisconsin Historical Museum shop’s 20% off discount on any “Real Wisconsin Clothing.”
For a complete list of activities and participating businesses, click here.
A “Deer Hunters’ Widow’s Ball with Moondance” is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21st at The Brink Lounge, 701 East Washington Avenue.
Moondance is a Madison-based rock band “that has been together longer than we care to admit.”
Admission to the ball is a mere $5. Compare this to the costs involved in traipsing off to The Ho-Chunk Casino to see that other Deer Hunter’s Widows favorite, The Chippendales: $5 admission vs. $15 for the Chippendales (plus all those dollar bills you’re tossing at the strippers).
According to the IGSA, “Diwali is a celebration of the defeat of evil and the triumph of good. Indians throughout the world celebrate Diwali with great enthusiasm. Diwali is one of India’s most important festivals and brings together all Indians, irrespective of religion.
Spending time with family and friends. Upholding traditions. Exchanging sweets. Wearing new clothes. And, of course, fireworks! Diwali is one of the funnest festivals! IGSA’s Diwali Night brings this festive air to Madison, uniting Indians in Madison and showcasing Diwali and Indian culture to the Madison community at large.”
The Diwali celebration begins at 6 p.m. with a free show in the Wisconsin Union Theater showcasing the talents of UW students. The entertainment will include Bollywood dances, classical music, and “hilarious skits.” The show will be followed by FREE food and a fireworks show on Alumni Pier of the Union Terrace.
The video below shows Diwali Night celebration in India:
Sally Jacob (a.k.a The Practical Archivist) is offering a free teleclass on organizing, preserving, and sharing your family photographs at 2 p.m. CDST on Monday, October 12th.
After her presentation, she will open up the conversation and accept questions from participants.
Jacobs, who was recently featured in a Madison Magazine story about three women who have carved out unique professional specialties preserving the past for individuals and organizations, has worked on collections at the Library of Congress Prints & Photos Division, the Wisconsin Historical Society, Memorial Library Special Collections, American Girl, and the Chicago Chapter of the American Red Cross.
For more details about the free “3 Secrets Every Archivist Knows” teleclass and how you may participate, visit the special information sheet posted on her website.
Photograph of the 2007 Great Pumpkin Regatta @ Peter Patau
The 5th annual Giant Pumpkin Regatta is scheduled to hit the waters of Lake Mendota at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 10th at the Memorial Union Lakefront, 800 Langdon Street.
Members of the Hoofer’s Sailing Club and students from the UW-Madison Horticulture Society co-sponsor this free seasonal event. Horticulture students who grew large pumpkins (about 3 feet in diameter) this fall will carve them out and use them as makeshift boats (stabilized by tractor-tire inner tubes) to paddle over a course in a series of races.
According to the Horticulture Department:
“CALS associate dean Irwin Goldman has denied that he has established a secret research plot, protected by guard llamas and a prickly hawthorne hedge, to develop his entry for the 2009 Giant Pumpkin Regatta on October 10.
“We have accomplished a great deal through the UW-Madison’s Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics Program, but we have never had a line of research geared toward competitive sailing pumpkins,” Goldman insists. “We don’t select for buoyancy, low-friction skins, banana-shaped shells or the other traits associated with classic racing squash. We leave that up to nature and luck.”
Anyone who wants to participate will have the opportunity to race in their own giant pumpkin. The public is welcome to watch this unique race from the Terrace, but spectators will not be allowed on Hoofer piers.
For additional information on the Great Pumpkin Regatta, contact James Nienhuis in the Horticulture Department by e-mail (nienhuis).
The Madison Mallards 2009 season may be over, but that doesn’t mean there’s no longer any action at the “Duck Pond.” Brace yourself fans: “Ducktoberfest,” a German-themed celebration of music, beer, Stoddard’s brats, and fun activities makes its debut from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3rd at the Warner Park “Duck Pond.”
There will be a flock of fun activities planned for people (and Dachshunds) of all ages in the outfield including:
Live music by the Gomers, Mama Digdown’s Brass Band & polka by Greg Anderson
Tapping of the Keg
Hay rides with all proceeds going to Madison Parks (only $2 per rider!)
Bingo
Roaming Accordion Players
Horseshoe Tournament
Arts & Crafts
Tents with Octoberfest-style tables
Axe throwing display
Carnival-style activities to keep the kids occupied for hours! (Inflatable activities including the Bounce House, T-Ball Machine, & Velcro Wall will be FREE for all kids!)
And lest we forget, there will also be Dachshund Races! We borrowed a photograph from the Mallards website to show you just how exciting this looks:
Dachshund Race at the Duckpond
You’ll also find the photo on the page with the registration form to enter your wiener dog in the race.
Advanced tickets for the event are only $5 can be purchased one of three ways:
1) Online by clicking HERE
2) Over the phone by calling 608.246.4277
3) In-person at Warner Park, aka the “Duck Pond,” Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
But wait! Cheapsters always read the fine print and here’s what we found on the Mallard’s website: “Those wearing a German-style costume will get in FREE!” So dig out those Lederhosen and dirndls and use the $5 you save to enjoy a Schnitzel Sandwich.
Saturday, September 26th is Smithsonian Magazine’s “2009 Museum Day,” during which you can “enjoy free general admission for you and a guest to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide.”
This may be a great deal for people living in other cities, but if you look at the list of participating museums, you’ll discover there’s not much incentive for skipping the Badger game on Saturday. The only two Madison-area Smithsonian Associates listed are the Wisconsin Union Gallery (free all the time) and Olbrich Gardens ($1 admission and free on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon). You can check the list of other Wisconsin participants here.
There will be a free opening reception for the “It’s Good for You! (100 Years of the Art and Science of Eating)” historical exhibition from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22nd in the 3rd floor Ebling Library Historical Reading Room in the Health Sciences Learning Center, 705 Highland Avenue.
The exhibition, which is being held in conjunction with the “Go Big Read” reading program, features the following themes: the history of the food pyramid; the story of Victory Gardens; the confusion inherent in diet advice; the “voice of authority” in cookbooks and nutrition literature; the marketing of food products; and the evolution of hospital diets.
If you can’t make it to the reception, you have until March 31st, 2010 to visit the exhibit. For additional information, call (608) 262-2402.
Tickets are still available for the “Mystical Arts of Tibet” performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, September 19th in the Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon Street. The prices aren’t cheap, but they’re reasonable: $15 for adults: $12 for youth ages 6-18; and $10 for UW-Madison students with a valid ID.
This is one of the few ticketed shows in the World Music Festival and based on the description provided by the Wisconsin Union, it sounds as if it will be worth your time and money:
“Endorsed by the Dalai Lama as a means of promoting world peace and healing through sacred performing art, the monks of the Drepung Loseling monastery make their return to Madison. Known for their remarkable multiphonic singing and their elaborate sand mandala art, the Monks perform using traditional Tibetan instruments and in traditional garb.”
However, Madison on the Cheap suggests you seriously consider buying them at the door, rather than online. We tried to order two $15 tickets online and discovered that they would cost a total of $39. In addition to the ticket price, there was a $3.50 per ticket service fee and a $2 facility fee. You can avoid the service fee if you buy your tickets at the box office. According to the Wisconsin Union website, there is a “$1.00 per ticket facility fee for all paid admission shows at the Wisconsin Union Theater.,” so it looks as though that fee can’t be avoided. Remember therefore to add $1 to the price of each ticket when you calculate how much you’re going to be spending.
Buying tickets on the day of the performance can sometimes be risky. All the available seats may be gone by the time you reach the head of the box office line. However, as of late Friday evening it looks as though there are plenty of seats available. For additional information, call (608) 265-ARTS.
The opening ceremony for the construction of the mandala is at 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 16th.
Painting with colored sand is one of the most unique artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism. In creating a mandala millions of grains of sand are laid into place on a flat platform over a period of days, or sometimes weeks.
Here is the complete schedule for the mandala construction:
As of about 8 a.m. this morning, Four Seasons Theatre’s managing director, Sarah Marty, was still looking for some volunteers to put in a couple of hours work at the CTM Scene Shop tonight at 6:30 p.m. — presumably working on sets for its upcoming production of “Little Women: The Broadway Musical,” presented in partnership with Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) on October 10-25, 2009 in The Playhouse at the Overture Center
According to Marty’s Facebook entreaties for volunteers, you’ll be rewarded for your hard work: She writes, “Yes, you will get dirty and will be lifting things. On the upside, I will buy you dinner and a beer at the Great Dane when we are all done.”
If you’re willing to work for food, contact Marty a.s.a.p. at smarty via e-mail (note: the address is masked to protect her from spammers; just click on the link).
Caldecott Medal award-winning* children’s book illustrator and author Kevin Henkes will speak about his work from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, in the 13th Floor Lounge, Educational Sciences Building, 1025 West Johnson Street. Prior to his speech, Dean Julie Underwood will present him with the 2009 Honorary Alumni Achievement Award.
This is the kick off event for the UW-Madison Department of Art and School of Education Tuesday Talks Series. It is co-sponsored by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center.
A book signing and reception will follow Henke’s talk. This event is free and open to the public.
The UW Horticulture Society is holding a plant sale from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 13th at the UW-Madison Stock Pavilion, 1675 Linden Drive.
We’re pretty certain you’ll find some bargains at this sale, which the Horticulture Society says will include a large selection of house plants. Here’s what they say in their news release:
“We will have a variety of foliage and blooming plants, including orchids, carnivorous plants, succulents, cacti and hardy mums for the fall.Perfect for dorms, homes and gifts! Prices vary and proceeds benefit the UW-Madison Horticulture Society.”
For additional information, call (715) 573-3988 (that’s not a local number, so we’re betting it’s the cell telephone number for some member of the society).
We post deals as we find them, but schedules sometimes change and everything has an expiration date. Prices and promotions are always subject to change without notice. It's always wise to call ahead and make certain a bargain is still available or an event has not been canceled.
